Forum Discussion

dogtown's avatar
dogtown
Explorer
Jul 29, 2013

79 Prowler Rebuild

This is my first post and first ever travel trailer. I picked up this 79 Prowler for a good price and I plan to use the rig for dry camping and hunting.






It's in decent shape but has major issues in the bathroom/shower area from leaks around the roof. I have read a lot of the re-build threads and while I feel like I'm in a little over my head with the repairs and or replacement in the back of the camper, I don't think it's an impossible project.

I have gotten started scraping the roof and years of patch on top of caulk on top of patch that were applied by the PO. My plan is to re-seal the seams with eternabond and then re-coat the roof. It looks exactly like the roof material in the "Hilton" build thread so I assume it's aluminum. What's the best most durable treatment for the roof once it's cleaned and sealed?

Being an RV newb, I don't know what what some of the trim and frame pieces are called so I don't know what to search for. For instance, what is this trim around the edge of the trailer called and do they make a "cap" or cover for it? Can I re-use it or do I need to start with a new piece if I have to separate the exterior panels?


What about this window trim?


I figure I will patch up the roof and then move to the back interior and see how bad it is.
  • tonyandkaren's avatar
    tonyandkaren
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2013
    It does look like it's in pretty good condition however you may find a lot of damage when you start on the inside. New trim pieces might be hard to find so take them off carefully so that they can be reused if necessary. Some of these might work as replacements - http://www.interstatemetals.com/cat_alu_moulding.htm

    Good luck! Post pictures of your progress.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2013
    Yes, save the roof and siding edge trim. That is usually made of aluminum so all it needs is a cleanup and can be reinstalled. There was probably a plastic screw cover that snapped into the trim piece. It is available in rolls in different colors.

    If you can see visible water`damage inside, I'd suggest to pull the damaged stuff out to inspect the extent/lack of frame damage. You'll need a good frame structure to reattach the roof edge trim and to support the roof so it remains leak free after your sealing efforts.

    Any frame damage may seem daunting to repair but it's all straightforward. If you can build a doghouse, you can repair a TT. Good luck with the Prowler, it certainly looks like a worthy candidate for some TLC.

    Edit: I painted the Hilton roof with white elastomeric roof paint, not the most durable stuff, but it did lower the inside temps considerably.
  • rbest23's avatar
    rbest23
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2013
    Nice TT dogtown!! Have fun with the rebuild. We just purchased a 73 Holiday Rambler. Took everything out of it and discovered some mold and softness in the floor around the bathroom/shower area and will have to pull up the floor. Has anyone reading this post tried to replace a sandwich type floor (2 sheets of plywood with foam in the middle)? If so, what material did you use or is there a company that sells this stuff. Thanks
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2013
    rbest23 wrote:
    Nice TT dogtown!! Have fun with the rebuild. We just purchased a 73 Holiday Rambler. Took everything out of it and discovered some mold and softness in the floor around the bathroom/shower area and will have to pull up the floor. Has anyone reading this post tried to replace a sandwich type floor (2 sheets of plywood with foam in the middle)? If so, what material did you use or is there a company that sells this stuff. Thanks
    In a late model trailer that type of floor would be called a "composite" panel. I don't know if that type of panel was readily available to Holiday in '73, I'm doubting it was.
    Irregardless, a fix is easy to do, just match the dimensions of the three components (bottom sheeting, foam, top sheeting) and install. A fastidious person would glue all three with a foam tolerant adhesive.

    If I was doing this for my own use and the repair area was small, I might opt to replace the damaged section with stacked plywood, forgoing the insulation value of the foam. By using stacked plywood instead of the inner foam, it increases the rigidity quite a bit. Jayco was using this type of composite panel in some of their models and some uses have reported failures, especially in those areas that have heavy traffic.
  • rbest23's avatar
    rbest23
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2013
    Thanks for the tip. The material can be found at Home Depot. Any suggestions for adhesive? The other issue is the side walls are mounted to the floor which is going to make this repair tricky but possible. I guess if you repair it in layers and one section at a time, it should turn out alright.

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